Gastroscope.



M. SUSSMANN;

GASTROSGOPE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1909.

Patented 1m28, 1909.l

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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M. SUSSMANN. l GASTROSCOPL APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1909.

944,830. Patented Dec.28,19o9V 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ZL Jal 4 MARTIN sUssMANN, or BERLIN, GERMANY.

easfrftosoorn.

Specication of Letters Itatent.` Patented Dec. 28, 190g.`-

Applicationl led June 2, 1909. Serial No. 499,756.

To all lwhom itmay concern:

contact with one another.

Be it known that I, MARTIN SUSSMANN, a citizen of the Empire of Germany, residing at Berlin, in the Empire of Germany, have invented a new and useful Gastroscope, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in.

gastros'copes comprising a horizontal part and a vertical part.

The chief improvement consists in the division of the tube contained in the vertical part' into a tubular piece suspended from the horizontal-part ,and aseries of tubular links, which areonone side flexibly connocted with the tubular piece and with one another. The end faces of the tubular piece andtubular links are at right angles to their axes and are adapted to come in close On the other side the tubular links are provided with longitudinal channels through which wires pass. Means are provided for stretching at will -the wires so as to turn the tubular piece and the tubular links into a straight tube and for releasing 'the wires. Further means are provided for turning the tubular piece and tubular links through any angle froln the front end of the horizontal part.

Other improvements will be hereinafter explained and pointed out in the claims.

When theV vertical part of ithe so improved gastroscope is flexible, it can be easily mtroduced through the feed pipe into the stomach, after which it is straightened for rendering possible the examination. uThe vertical part can also be turned through any angle. I stomach the vertical part of the gastroscope is turned into its flexible state, so 'thatit can be easily withdrawn. 1

I will now )roceed to tion with reierence to the accompanying drawings, in whichp Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the gastroscope, the vertical part being in its flexible and bent state, Fig. 2

is` an elevation of the vertical'part in its straightened state and a cross section through the rear end of thesupporting box in the horizontal part, an intermediate portion of the vertical part being omitted and adjoining parts of the same being shown in section, Fig. 3 is a cross section on an enlarged scale through the-vertical part and shows a tubular link in its end view, Fig. 4'

is a longitudinal sectionl on the same en- After the examination 0f the tion near the mirror 27. A tubular describe my inven-` larged scalethrough a portion of the vertical part and shows a tubular link, Fig.v 5 is a plan View of a plate at the upper end ofthe tubular piece and shows a device for stretching and releasing the wires passing through vthe longitudinal channels of the tubular links, Fig. (5 is an elevation of the same, when looked at from right to left in Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is an end view of the same, when looked at from below inFig 5, Fig. 8

v is similar to Fig. 3 and shows a modified construction of the tubular link, Fig. 9 is similar to Fig. 4 and shows the modified tubular link, Fig. 10 shows in longitudinal section two other modified tubular links hinged to one another, Fig. 11 shows mostly in longitudinal section a modified supporting box of the horizontal part and in'elevation the upper portion of the vertical part,

and Fig. 12 is avertical longitudinal seetion on an enlarged scale through the rear end of the horizontal part and the upper end of the vertical part of this modified gastrowith an inclined mirror 27. It may containY a collectivellens 28 of any known construciece 1u is mounted to turn in the box 17 at its rear end and is'shown as made in one with a lace pulley 18, which bears on the bottom of the box 17. Another lace pulley 2O is mounted to turn on, the bottom of the box 17 at its front end and can be turned from without by means of a small handle 202L or the like.

-Anv endless lace `21 connects the two lace pulleys 18 and 20 and it will be understood, that the tubular ieee 1a can be turned v through any angle from the front end-of the supporting box 17 The tubular piece 1a 1s on one side connected with a series of tubular links 1, 1 by means of an elastic steel strip 4 (see Figs. 3 and 4:). Each tubular link 1 is eccentric in cross section (see Fig. 3) and its thinnest vertical portion is shown as liattened for facilitating the attachment of the steel strip 4. The latter may be con- 'nected with neemt-a1. links 1, '1 in any known manner, for example by means of the rivets 5, shown. It is essential that the I lter with one another, so that two wires 8, 8

can be passed. through them. A plate 19 (see Figs. 5 to 7) is secured on the lace pulley 1'8 or may be made in one piece with the tubular piece 1. It carries two bearings 10, 10 for a short shaft 9, which can be turned and longitudinally shifted in them. The shaft 9 is provided with a drum- 9a. in the middle,

a square head 6 and a screw-threaded end 25. lThe upper ends of the two wires 8 are fastened on the drum 9 and can be wound vthereon or off. The square head 6 can en-` age in a uare hole 26 (Fig. 7) in the one caring 10 or preventing the drum 9 from turnin As the vshaft 9 requires to be longitudina ly shifted for securing or releasing it, preferably a single wire is'employed in place of the two wires 8 and is doubled at the end of the lowermost tubular link 1, where it preferably passes over small ulleys (not shown) therein provided or t lrough eyes or` rounded guides of any known construction. Then .the two parallel' parts of the doubled wire 8 can easily adjust themshort s aft selves in the channels 7, 7 'for equalizing their tension, when the shaft 9'is shifted in one or the other direction. An operating shaft 22 is mounted to-turn and longitudinally shift in suitable bearings provided in the support'. box 17. This shaft 22 is vided at its 'ont end with a handle 23 or other equivalent, for example a knurled knob andat its rear'end with a nut 24, which can en ge the screwfthreaded end `25 ofthe When by the lace pulley 2O the other one 18 is turned in one direction, the screwthreaded end-'25 of the shaft 9 at the tubular piece 1fL willstrike'the nut 24 and the square head 6 can engage in the s uare hole 26, whereupon the handle 25 or t 1e like can be pushed inward and turned in one direction for screwing the nut 24 home on the screw -25 and thus connecting .the two shafts 22 and 9. Then the handle 23 can be pulled Iforward for withdrawing the square head 6 from its hole 26, whereupon the handle 23 is further turned for winding the ends of the doubled wire 8 on the drum 9ZL and thus straightening the whole series of tubular dlinks 1, 1, which with the tubular piece 1a will be -converted into a strai ht vertical tube, through which rays of lig t lcan pass pro-v for falling on the mirror 27 and passing.

the ocular 3. A

A hose 15 is drawn over the series of tubular links 1, 1 and can be in an known manner fastenedon the tubular), piece 1*. on I shallV show an example ofhow this can be effected. The hose 15 leaves '.suiiicient `space for the knownfair tube 11 and two con- Later ,therefrOm through the collective Vlens 28 togfa of the supporting box 17 Later on-I shall show an example of how this can be don'e. l. have not shown how compressed air from a suitable source can be introduced into the front end of the box 17, as this is known. The air tube 11 terminates at its lower end in a checking valve 49 of any known .construction. The lower end of the hose 15 is closed and is thickened and rounded olf at 16, so as to save the stomach from injuries. An inclined mirror 14 and a small incandcscent electric lamp 13 in conjunction with the lower end of the air tube 11 and its checking valve`49 are embedded in the lower end of the hose 15, an aperture 15 being vleft for the mirror 14 and another aperture 15A for the lamp 13. The latter is connected with the two conductors 12, 12 already referred to above, while these conductors are in vturn connected with a source of current through the supportin box 17 in any known manner. Later on I s all show an example of how this may be effected. In case the air tube 11 is a hose, preferably suitable projections or arms (not shown) are provided on the several tubular links 1, 1 for )reventing the hose 11 from shifting to a side.

Where so preferred one or several collective or other lenses may be disposed in one or several of the tubular links l, 1. The collective lens 28 may be, omitted, or several lerses may be disposed in the horizontal tu e 2.

Before the introduction ofthe gastroscope i lmay be made of uniform thickness and provided with longitudinal guides 7a, 7a for the wires 8, 8, as is clearly shown at Figs. 8 and 9. Of course the two wires 8, 8 or vthe doubled wire 8 may be replaced by a single wire, in'which'case the tubular links 1,- 1

are each provided with a single hole 7 or a one another lby hinges 29, 29, as is shown at Fig. 10.

From the above description it will be seen, that the vertical part of the gastroscope can not be straightened in any position, but it requires to berst turned into the correct position, before it cank be straightened This necessity is avoidedwith kthe modified construction illustratedat Figs. 11 and 12.

A tubular piece 1b is made of. the -saine eccentric cross section at its lower end as any tubular link 1 and is made cylindrical in its middle art and ltherein provided Witha longitudinal slot 43. A ring 42 is mounted to slide on the middlev part ofthe t bular piece 1b and is provided with a pin 1 engaging through 'the slot 43, whereby it is prevented from turning. To the ring 42 are attached the two wires 8, 8 or the single wire 8, as the case may be. 'The tubular piece 1b is made thick at th'e `upperend and'is made in 'one with a bevel wheel 36, which bears on the bottomv of the supporting box 17a. The bore of the tubularpiece 1b is made -a little larger in ldiameter for the middle part andthe upper end.` In this Wider bore an'operating tube 33 is'mounted to/ turn, -which is on its outside provided with a helical groove 32 and the pin 41 lis made to y engage in this groove. At the upper end the tube 33 is made inone with an opposite bevel wheel36, which bears with its rim 34 from below against the cover ofthe box 17 whereby the tube 33 isy prevented fromlongitudinal motion. A shaft 38 provided with a knul-led knob 46 at the front end and with a small bevel wheel 37 at the rear endis mounted to turn in a bearing 39, which is mounted to rock with its two pivots 40 in the box 17a. The small bevel wheel 37 can me'sh With either of thetwo bevel wheels 36 and 36, which are made alike. j It will be understood, that on the knurled knob 46 being pressed upward and turned, the smallv bevel wheel 37 will engage the lower bevel Wheel^36 and thereby turn the vertical part of the gastroscope, while on the knob 4G being pressed downward and turned in either direction the small. bevel wheel 37 will engage the upper bevel wheel 36a and thereby turn the operating tube 33,

so that thev in 41 engaging in its helical groove 32 w1ll be moved upward or downward, asthe case may be, for straightening or releasing respectively the vertical part of .the gastlbscope by means of the wires 8, 8.

any angle.

stretchin cross section shown as attached to the bot-'- tom of the'hox17"L and communicating with thel annular chamber 50 through an opening 48. Two insulated contact rings 44, 44 are shown as embeddedin the upper end of the tubular piece 1b and are to be .severally connected with the two conductors 12, 12 (Figs. 3 or 8), while two conductors 45, 45 are disposed in the-.tube 47 and are connected with two contact springs .(not shown) 'of any known construction,` which are adapted to bear on the two contact rings 44, 44. It will be then-seen, that for any position of the vertical part the current can be `passed `through the incandescent electric lamp 13 front end'and a mirror at the rear end, of a vertical tubular piece'mounted to turn in said horizontal tube at its rear end, a series lof tubular links flexibly connected 'on one side with said verticaltubular piece and with vone another and having on the othe,l y

side longitudinal channels, the end faces of said tubular piece and said tubular links being at right angles to their axes and adapted l to come in close contact-with one another, wires passing through the longitudinal chan# nels ofsaid tubular links, means for stretchin and releasing said wires so as to turn said tubular piece and said series of tubular links into a straight tube and to release same at will, and means for turning the tubular` piece and said series of tubular links through 2. 'In a gastroscope, the combination with a horizontal tube having 'an ocularl at the front end and a mirror at the rear end, of a tubular piecesuspended from said hori-` zontal tube at its rear end, a series of tubular links, an elasticsteel strip connecting said tubular piece and said tubular links with one another on one side, the end faces of said tubular piece and said tubular links being at right angles to their axes and lada ted to' come in close contact with one anot 1er and the tubular links having on the side opposite to the steel strip longitudinal channels,

wires passing through the longitudinal channels of said tubular links, and means for and releasing said wires so as to turn sai .tubular piece and said serles of tubular links into a straight ltube/and to release same at will.

3. In a gastroscope, the combination with/l a `horizontal tube front end and a mirrorV at the rear end, of a aving anocular at the anotheron one side and havmg on the other side longitudinal channels, the end faces of said tubular piece and said tubular links being at right angles to their', axes and adapted toA come in close contact with one another,

wires passing through the longitudinal channels of said tubular links, and means for stretching and releasing said Wires `so as to turn the tubular piece and the series of tubular links into a straight tube and to release same at will.

4. In a gastroscope, the combination 4vvith a supporting box, of a horizontal tube longitudinally shiftable on said supporting box and having'an ocular at the front end and a mirrorI at the rear end, a vertical tubular piece mounted to turn in saidsu porting box at its rear end, a series of tubu ar links iexiblyv, connected with said tubular iecc and with one another on one side and aving on the other side longitudinalchannels, the end faces of said tubular piece and said tubular links being at right angles to their axes and adapted to come in close contact with one another, Wires passing through the longitudinal channels of said tubular links, a horizontal short shaft mounted to turn at said tubular piece and adapted-to Wind on and oft' the ends of said Wires, a shaft longitudinally shiftable and turnable in said supporting box and adapted to be turned from without at the front end, means for coup# ling said horizontal short shaft With said shaft and securing them at Will after turning, a lace pulley at said tubularpiece, a second lace pulley mounted to turn in said supporting box at its front end, an endless series of tubular links flexibly connected other on one side and having onthe other side longitudinal channels, the end faces of said tubular piece and-said tubular linksbeing at right angles to their axes and adapted Vto come in close contact with one another, Wires passing through the-longitudinal channels of said tubular links, a ring longitudinally movable on said tubular piece and conoperating tube turnable in said tubular iece and having an opposite bevel Wheel a ove and an external helical groove below, a pin in said ring and adapted to engage through the longitudinal slot of said tubular piece into the helical groove of said operating box,y and an o erating shaft mounted to turn in said roc (ing bearing and having at the front end a knob adapted to be turned from Without and at the rear end a small bevel wheel which can mesh at Will with said bevel wheel or said second bevel Wheel.

MARTIN SUSSMANN.

Witnesses HENRY HASPER, WOLDEMAR HAUPT.

lace connecting said lace pulley with said nected With the upper ends of said Wires, an

tube, a rocking bearing in said supporting` dinal slot below and a bevelwheel above, a

'with saidtubular piece and With one an- 

